AGENDA DATE: 5/6/2026
TITLE:
Comprehensive Plan Amendment Request Review Process
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Inform the Board of the recommended process for reviewing citizen requests to amend the Comprehensive Plan
ITEM TYPE: Regular Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Wall, Herrick, Tevendale, Barnes, McDermott, Swartzendruber, Fritz, Benish
PRESENTER (S): David Benish
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: An action item in the updated Comprehensive Plan, AC44, directs staff to consider establishing an application process for public-initiated Comprehensive Plan Amendments (CPA). The following Action was included in the Implementation Chapter (P. IMPL-16):
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS: In addition to a County-initiated review of the Comprehensive Plan, including the five-year review called for by the Code of Virginia, Comprehensive Plan Amendments are currently initiated by County staff or the Board of Supervisors. To offer options to property owners, the County may look at revising the process to include property owner-initiated amendments to AC44. Property owner-initiated amendments to AC44 may not include additions to the Development Areas.
In the past, the County had an application process for CPAs where the public could propose changes to the Plan. Most of the submitted requests were not supported for further study or approved. To more effectively align staff resources with the Board's priorities, in 2018, the Board approved discontinuing the public-initiated CPA application process and adopted a policy requiring that all CPA proposals originate with either the Planning Commission or the Board of Supervisors. Today, when a proposal is initiated by the Commission, the Board adopts a Resolution of Intent (ROI) directing staff to undertake a CPA study and establishes its timing and priority relative to other Community Development Department work program items.
The attached staff report (Attachment A) ...
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